Mathematics
Overview
Mathematics, encompassing several of the original liberal arts, is valued for its exquisite intellectual beauty and its timeless exploration of all things spatial, quantitative and patterned through the lens of rigorous abstraction. As a vibrant modern science, it possesses an unparalleled analytical power for describing, detailing and deriving insight into numerous physical, biological, technological, economic and societal aspects of the world we all live in. The Mathematics department is committed to engaging a diverse range of students in the active study and creative application of the principles, ideas, and methods that characterize mathematics and the mathematical sciences, and offering preparation toward a wide variety of careers and educational pursuits.
Upon graduation, some mathematics majors go on to graduate or professional school while others begin careers in teaching, business, industry, or government. The major can be structured to provide a solid foundation in the mathematical sciences-pure and applied mathematics, statistics, and operations research-and fields close to mathematics like computer science, actuarial science, and engineering. A major or minor in mathematics can also provide an excellent technical and theoretical complement to a major or minor in other fields.
Requirements
Major
The minimum requirements for the major outlined below allow a student great flexibility in designing a course of study to meet their own intellectual and career goals.
Fundamental courses
| Calculus 1 | 4 units |
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| Calculus 2 | 4 units |
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| MATH 210 | Discrete Mathematics | 4 units |
| Or | ||
| MATH 211 | Discrete Mathematics Through Cryptography | 4 units |
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| MATH 212 | Multivariable Calculus | 4 units |
| MATH 214 | Linear Algebra | 4 units |
Any student who places out of a Calculus 1 or Calculus 2 class satisfies the corresponding requirement for the Math Major.
Students must receive a grade of C or above in each of ">MATH 210 or MATH 211, ">MATH 212, and ">MATH 214 in order to graduate with a Mathematics major. If a student does not receive a grade of C or higher, the department chair will support a Petition for Special Consideration requesting to repeat the course. Only the most recent grade will count towards satisfying the 200-level requirement.
At least two of the required 200-level Mathematics courses (">MATH 210 or MATH 211, ">MATH 212 and ">MATH 214) must be taken at Â鶹ƵµÀ except by approval of the chair. Exceptions must be filed by submitting a Petition for Special Consideration.
Advanced Courses
All students must complete either MATH 310 or MATH 320, and twenty additional units units of Mathematics courses numbered 310 or above (excluding courses being used to satisfy the Comprehensive Requirement). MATH 397 may be used to meet this requirement.
Colloquium Requirement
| MATH 300 | Junior Colloquium | 2 units |
Breadth requirement
Students must take one course from the following approved list of courses (students can petition the department to have a course not on the list count for the breadth requirement):
| CHEM 355 | Bioinformatics | 2 units |
| COMP 131 | Fundamentals of Computer Science | 4 units |
| COMP 229 | Data Structures | 4 units |
| COMP 347 | Machine Learning | 4 units |
| ECON 272 | Applied Econometrics | 4 units |
| ECON 305 | Game Theory | 4 units |
| ECON 306 | Advanced Econometrics | 4 units |
| PHIL 350/MATH 350 | Metalogic | 4 units |
| PHYS 110 | Introductory Mechanics | 4 units |
| PHYS 115 | General Physics I | 4 units |
| PHYS 117 | Waves and Thermal Physics | 4 units |
| PHYS 230 | Introductory Electricity and Magnetism | 4 units |
| PHYS 240 | Foundations of Modern Physics | 4 units |
| PHYS 261 | Simulations in Physics | 4 units |
| PHYS 310 | Mathematical Methods in Physics | 4 units |
| PHYS 320 | Analytical Dynamics | 4 units |
| PHYS 350 | Statistical Physics | 4 units |
The Mathematics department has prepared guidelines for majors considering future study or careers in pure and applied mathematics, education, actuarial science, and computer science. These guidelines are available in the Students section on our website.
Honors in the Major
Students who wish to be considered for honors in Mathematics must have completed at least four 300-level courses (excluding Math 300) and maintain a GPA of 3.5 through the first semester of the senior year in their 300-level courses OR have permission of the chair. Honors students must also complete three approved upper-division courses beyond those required for the major by the end of their senior year (for a total of 36 units). Honors students must obtain signed approval from a mentor by the end of the junior year, and must enroll in MATH 499 for the fall semester of senior year. Students who enroll in MATH 499 may substitute it for MATH 400 in satisfying the major requirements, whether or not they receive honors. To receive honors, a student must write a paper as well as give a talk to the department on the topic of the paper. The paper, which typically will be 20 pages long, is graded by the mentor along with a second reader; the entire department evaluates the talk, which is typically at least 30 minutes long. The paper and talk must both be completed no later than April 1 of the Honors candidate's senior year. Consult the Mathematics Department for additional details.
Concentration in Computational Math
Fundamental Courses (20 units)
| MATH 110 | Calculus 1 | 4 units |
| MATH 120 | Calculus 2 | 4 units |
| MATH 210 | Discrete Mathematics | 4 units |
| MATH 212 | Multivariable Calculus | 4 units |
| MATH 214 | Linear Algebra | 4 units |
Breadth Requirement (4 units)
| MATH 274 | Computational Mathematics I | 4 units |
Advanced Courses (24 units)
| MATH 310 | Real Analysis | 4 units |
| Or | ||
| MATH 320 | Algebra | 4 units |
| MATH 370 | Numerical Analysis | 4 units |
| MATH 374 | Special Topics in Computational Mathematics | 2 or 4 units |
| Three 300-level electives |
Comprehensive Requirement (6 units)
| MATH 300 | Junior Colloquium | 2 units |
| And | ||
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| a total of four units in one or more of the following: | ||
| MATH 395 | Special Topics in Advanced Mathematics | 2 or 4 units |
| MATH 397 | Independent Study | 2 or 4 units |
| MATH 400 | Senior Colloquium | 2 units |
Minor
The minor in Mathematics requires at least 20 units of Mathematics courses. Students must successfully complete each of ">MATH 210 or MATH 211, ">MATH 212, and ">MATH 214 in order to graduate with a Mathematics minor. Additionally, students must complete eight more units of mathematics courses numbered 150 or above with at least four units numbered above 300 taken at Occidental or through college transfer credit. Students are required to take at least eight units at Â鶹ƵµÀ. Courses with significant Mathematics-related content taken outside of the Mathematics Department may be approved with permission of the department chair.
Second-Stage Writing
Students majoring in Mathematics should familiarize themselves with this requirement at the time of declaring the major. The Second-Stage Writing Requirement is addressed in MATH-300&source=gmail&ust=1651853571966000&usg=AOvVaw2R-ZLOWYMdyUPmGKGPMx4l" href="http://oxy.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2021-2022/Catalog/Course-Descriptions/MATH-Mathematics/300/MATH-300" target="_blank">MATH 300. Students not taking MATH-300&source=gmail&ust=1651853571966000&usg=AOvVaw2R-ZLOWYMdyUPmGKGPMx4l" href="http://oxy.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2021-2022/Catalog/Course-Descriptions/MATH-Mathematics/300/MATH-300" target="_blank">MATH 300(e.g., study abroad students) may petition to satisfy the writing requirement at a different time.
Students satisfy the Second-Stage Writing Requirement in Mathematics by creating and submitting a portfolio of papers on mathematical topics in MATH 300 that is evaluated by the Instructor as earning a letter grade of C or higher.
Students that fail to satisfy the Second-Stage Writing Requirement in Mathematics in MATH 300 have to submit a portfolio to the department chair before the start of the Senior year that is evaluated as earning a letter grade of C or higher.
Comprehensive Requirement
The comprehensive requirement in Mathematics has two parts.
The first part is the successful completion of ">MATH 300: Junior Colloquium. The second part requires successful completion for a letter grade for a total of four units in one or more of the following:
">MATH 395 (Special Topics in Advanced Mathematics)
">MATH 400 (Senior Seminar)
">MATH 497 (Independent Study)
">MATH 499 (Honors Senior Seminar)
A student wishing to complete the senior comprehensive requirements through ">MATH 497 or ">MATH 499 must find a faculty member in the Mathematics Department willing to supervise the independent study/honors thesis.
A student who successfully completes both parts of the Comprehensive requirement will receive a grade of P. To pass the comprehensive requirements with distinction a student must give a 20 minute talk and submit a 10-page paper that more than one faculty member evaluate as being distinctive. The paper and talk must be in the context of any of the courses that fulfill the comprehensive requirement (MATH 395 or MATH 397 or MATH 400 or MATH 499).
Further information is available from the department.
Transfer Credit Policies
The Mathematics Department may accept online courses in transfer, both as general elective credit and as credit toward the major or minor.
Students who earned a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB examination will earn four units of credit and will be considered to have completed the equivalent of MATH 110 (Calculus 1). Students who earned a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus BC examination will earn four units of credit and will be considered to have completed the equivalent of MATH 120 (Calculus 2). Students who earned a score of 6 or 7 on the (higher level) IB examination or a grade of A or B on the A-level examination will earn four units of credit and will be considered to have completed the equivalent of both MATH 110 (Calculus 1) and MATH 120 (Calculus 2).
Students matriculating as frosh must take at least two of the required 200-level Mathematics courses (MATH 210, MATH 212 and MATH 214) at Â鶹ƵµÀ except by approval of the chair.
Students transferring from another institution may transfer the 200-level Mathematics sequence (MATH 210, MATH 212, MATH 214) with approval from the department chair.
A student may apply no more than eight units of 300-level credit in transfer toward the major, except by permission of the chair.
Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for more details.